Hurricanes 'downgraded' for Lions
Thu, 01 May 2008 11:40
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper, despite warning his team against the dangers of underestimating the lowly Lions, has tweaked his team for their Super 14 encounter with the bottom-placed South African franchise in Wellington on Saturday.
The Hurricanes will be without three All Blacks in their starting 15 against the Lions - prop Neemia Tialata (throat) and blindside flank Jerry Collins (bruised ribs) out injured, while centre Conrad Smith drops to the bench for some rest after a heavy workload.
Cooper decided to slightly tweak the starting 15 from the last week's 38-10 win against the Cheetahs.
With Collins still unavailable, Rodney So'oialo, Scott Waldrom and Chris Masoe remain the loose forward combination, while John Schwalger starts in place of Tialata in the only change to the pack.
In the backs, Shannon Paku replaces Hosea Gear on the right wing, while Tane Tu'ipulotu starts in place of Smith at centre - alongside Ma'a Nonu.
Tamati Ellison is unavailable because of injury.
Teenager Zac Guildford, who scored a try against the Cheetahs, starts his second consecutive game on the left wing.
Willie Ripia keeps the No.10 jersey for the second successive game, leaving Jimmy Gopperth to warm the bench alongside Smith and scrumhalf Alby Mathewson.
Despite slightly 'downgrading' his Hurricanes outfit, Cooper warned that his team will have to "muscle up defensively" against the Lions or risk being ambushed.
Cooper feels the Lions' capabilities are not reflected in their bottom-of-the-table standing and his side "needed to be on the money" to combat a typical South African side boasting a powerful forward pack.
"Bottom placing does not reflect their capabilities," Cooper told NZPA.
"When you offload in contact which they try and do, maybe the mistakes come in.
"Any team that moves the ball like them, they are either going to score or make mistakes ... when the ball does stick, we will have to play a tough defensive game."
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Shannon Paku, 13 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Chris Masoe, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Jimmy Gopperth, 22 Conrad Smith.
Date: Saturday, 3 May
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19:35 (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges: Julian Pritchard (Australia), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
